BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Before Sunday night, the Armada had never beaten the Cosmos in New York.
In fact, in eight previous meeting, Jacksonville had managed to beat the most decorated team in American soccer only once. That came in Jacksonville in 2015.
That all changed on Sunday night as the Armada took three points in Brooklyn with a 2-0 victory. In the first half-hour, New York dominated possession. Mechack Jerome's 30th minute free kick bounced into the penalty area, Cosmos midfielder Juan Arrango's attempt to clear the ball out with a header, but instead redirected it past his own goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer for an own goal.
Three minutes later, the Jacksonville added to the advantage when Irishman Ciaran Killduff poked home a loose ball off a corner kick for his first goal in an Armada kit. The play was disputed by the Cosmos, but replay showed that Maurer was not contacted by any Jacksonville players and the goal rightly stood.
From there, Jacksonville's defensive effort dominated the Cosmos. New York didn't get another shot on goal until the final 10 minutes as they sent players forward in a desperate attempt to find the net. It was to no avail as Jacksonville goalkeeper Caleb Patterson-Sewell was up to the task, recording his seventh clean sheet of the season, third best in the NASL.
The Armada now stand in third place in the combined table, still in playoff contention. Next up, Jacksonville hosts Indy Eleven at 7 p.m. Saturday at UNF's Hodges Stadium in a game that can be seen on CW17.